Lock-nut.



B. D. RADCLIFFE.

LOCK NUT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 22 1913- 1, 143,229. Patented June 15, 1915.

an anion.

BENJAMIN ID. RAIDCLIFFE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN LOCK NUT COMPANY, A CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

LOCK-NUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

- provide a lock nut of the character referred to, with a device for holding the locking key within the recess in the nut while the nut is being applied to the bolt, thereby facilitating the application of the nut to the bolt by preventing the accidental displacement of the locking key.

A further object of my invention is to 7 provided a lock nut of the type having a recess loosely containing a rolling locking key,

with a device for holding the key within the recess in such position that the locking collars on the key will aline with the threads of the nut, and consequently aline with the groove between adjacent convolutions of the threads of the engaged bolt, so as to permit the ready application of the nut to the bolt.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a lock nut of the character referred to, with a device for insuring the locking of the nut upon the bolt when there is a considerable loose fit between the nut and bolt, as is frequently the case.

A final object of my invention is to provide an improved lock nut which will be simple in construction, convenient in use, and efiicient in operation.

My invention will be more fully disclosed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in several convenient and practical forms, and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through a nut provided with the preferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking from the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the locking key and supporting device therefor removed 7 from the nut; and Fig. A is a perspective view of the key-supporting device.

' Similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the several figures of the drawing.

Reference letter A indicates a nut, which may be of any desired size, shape, and material. A longitudinal recess a is formed in the nut, such recess opening inwardly and interrupting the thread of the nut. This recess is formed of different depths to permit the movement of the key therein into and out of locked relation with the bolt in the manner fully illustrated and described in said prior patent to Drake No. 986,6ll6.

B designates a locking key loosely fitting within the recess a in the nut and provided with one or more radial locking collars Z) and 6 one of such collars being preferably located at each end of an intermediate concentric connecting portion of less diameter than the diameter of the collars.

The lock nut above described does not in itself constitute my present invention, but is illustrated and described in order that the operation of my invention may be fully disclosed.

Referring to the drawings, G designates a supporting device for the key, such device being preferably formed of sheet metal having suflicient resiliency to retain the device within the recess a in the nut. One or both edges of the device C may be provided with serrations c to more securely grip the radial walls of the recess a, and thereby retain the device securely within the recess. The material of which the holding device C is formed possesses suflicient resiliency to permit the ready insertion of the device within the recess in the nut. The holding device is provided with clips 0 and 0 preferably formed integral with the metal plate of which the device is formed, and bent backwardly so as to loosely surround the reduced intermediate portion of the key B. The holding device C is provided with a spring cl, which engages the key and tends to lift the same toward the center of the nut. The spring cl is preferably formed integral with i the plate of which the holding device is formed, and may be conveniently struck from the metal plate forming the device.

The manner of using and operation of the holding device above described is as follows:

. observed that I have invented an improved ing device is so located within the recess in the nut as to aline the locking collars of the key with the convolutions of the screw threads in thenut. The nut may then be readily applied to the bolt Without danger fof the'key becoming accidentally displaced from the recess in the nut,fand without danger of the locking collars on the key engaging the thread of the bolt, inasmuch as the alinement of the collars with the thread of the nut insures the alining of the collars with the grooves between adjacent convolutions of the thread on the bolt. The spring cl lifts the key toward the center of the nut so that it will frictionally engage the bolt and'insure the movement of the key into the restricted portion of the recess a'and tightly lock the nut'on the bolt against anyrelative rotation in a direction to disengage the nut from the bolt. The spring on theholding device therefore serves to secure the locking of a nut on-a bolt, even when there is considerable looseness in the engagement of the nut and bolt. p

From the foregoing description it will be device for facilitating the application of a lock nut to a bolt and for increasing the efliciency of the locking key. Through the use of my invention the key is retained within the recess in the nut and in proper position to 'perm it'the application of the nut to a bolt; and in the preferred form of my invention it further serves to yi'eldingly lift the key toward the center of the nut so as to insure the locking of the nut upon the 7 bolt even when there is a considerable difcess,

ference in the diameters of the bolt and nut. i

i I claim a l. The combination with a lock nut having a recess therein, of a key having locking collars thereon loosely supported in'said reand a sheetmetal device resiliently supported within said recess and having a clip thereon loosely surrounding the key to retain the same within said recess and to permit its movement into locked and unlocked positions relatively to the thread on the bolt, the said device also having a spring thereon en aging said key to lift the same into contact with the threads on the bolt.

2. The combination with a lock nut having a recess therein, ofa key having spaced locking collars thereon loosely supported in said recess, and a key retaining device formed of resilient sheet metal sprung into said recess and held therein by the engagement of its opposite edges w-ithrthe. opposite side walls of said reces's,'said"device, having a clip out therefrom and bent loosely around said key to retain the same within said recess and to permit movement thereof into locked and unlocked positions relatively to the bolt. r V 3. The combination with a lock nut havmg a recess therein, of 'a movable key having spaced locking collars thereon loosely, supported n said recess, and a sheet metal device reslliently supported withinsaid recess and having clips thereon loosely surrounding the key intermediate of said spaced collens to retain the key within said recess and to permit its movement into locked andunlocked positions relatively to the thread of the bolt. r y Y 4. The combination with a lock nut having a recess therein, of a key having spaced locking collars thereon loosely supported in said recess, and a sheet metal device resiliently supported within said recess and having clips thereon loosely surrounding the -key intermediate 'of said collars to retain the key within said recess and to permit, its

movement into locked and unlocked positions relatively to the thread on the bolt, the

engaging said "key intermediate of said colsaid device also having a spring thereupon i lars to liftthe same into contact with the threads on the bolt.

5. The combination with a lock nut havinga recess therein, -of-a key having spaced locking collars-thereon loosely supported in said recess, and a, "key-retaining device formed-of resilient sheet metal sprung into said recess and held therein by the engage- .105' ment of its opposite'edges with the opposite side walls of said recess, said device having clips cut therefrom and bent loosely around said key to retain the same withinfsaidrecess and to permit "the movement thereof into locked and'un'locked positions relatively A to-the bolt,?the said devicealso having a resilient tongue out therefrom and engaging said key to lift thesame intojcontact with the bolt. V

6. The combination with a lock nut hav- 'ing a recess therein,- of-a movable key loosely supported in'saidrec'ess,-'and a sheet metal device resiliently supported within said recess and having clips thereon loosely surrounding the key to retain the same within said recess and to-perr'nit the movement of said key into locked and unlocked positions.

7. The combination with a lock nut having a recess therein, of a key loosely supported in said recess, and a sheet metal device resiliently supported within said recess and having --clips thereon loosely surrounding the key to retain the same Within said In testimony whereof, I have subscribed recess and to permit the movement of said my name.

key into locked and unlocked positions, the BENJAMIN D. RADCLIFFE. said device also having a spring thereon Witnesses: engaging said key and tending to lift the GEO. L. WILKINSON,

same toward the center of the nut. MAURICE BOLTON.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

